Graduates on M&S's Management Graduate programme get right into retail management duties on the shop floor.
Marks and Spencer is one of the UK's largest and most iconic retail brands. Graduates joining the company on their Retail Management Graduate Scheme are given the chance to take on management duties right away with placements on the shop floor.
Tom Footitt studied Business Studies at Coventry University before joining Marks and Spencer in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. He says he was surprised about how quickly he was trusted in store.
"I was on the shop floor from day one. The amazing thing is I am 23 and I'm a store manager already," he says.
"You've literally got the backing of a huge company and the opportunity to learn a lot very quickly. In retail management you can learn a skill-set in one area and then move on to another function within the store, where you learn other skills and develop different leadership qualities."
Retail management is not without its challenges, and graduates need to be prepared to work hard.
"The most important thing is you've got to be resilient, you've got to be able to battle through because you're going to be put in challenging scenarios straight away," Tom says. "You need to be pro-active in your approach and realise it's your career."
Tom says one of the most rewarding aspects of retail management is being able to work with team members and inspire each other.
"It's about getting out of bed every day and inspiring your team to deliver a top-tier performance for your brand," he says. "However stressed you may be feeling you need to make sure your team can rely on you to be a leader and a good manager, so they can do the best job."